Are you feeling called into full-time ministry, but life, and other responsibilities are pulling you in different directions?
At Cedar Springs, we understand life’s busyness can be overwhelming, leaving you longing for deeper connections, purpose, and peace.
That is why we are excited to introduce a unique opportunity that can assist in making the call to be in ministry a reality. Let us help you find out how we can equip you to answer the call!
Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church (CSPC) is committed to investing in the next generation of leaders called to full-time vocational ministry. To this end, CSPC created the ministry residency program. The ministry residency program provides participants with the theological education, ministry experience, and spiritual direction to successfully launch into a full-time vocational call.
What is the Ministry Residency Program?
The program is four years long, and each year includes three streams of learning. A successful graduate of the program will receive:
- A Master of Divinity from the Hybrid MDiv program at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.
- A four-year immersion in the life of Christian Spiritual Formation.
- A four-year ministry experience which will feature an immersion into children’s ministry, youth ministry, adult ministry, local missions, and global missions.
Ministry residents will also be responsible for several deliverables each year, all of which are designed to capture the seminal learnings from the year. These include:
- An annual paper to capture the learnings from the spiritual formation tract.
- An annual paper which specifies: (1) the best practices from the ministry areas in which the
- ministry resident spent time, and (2) the philosophy of ministry that the ministry resident
- has developed because of his/her experiential learning.
- An annual paper that aims to capture the ministry resident’s discernment process as it relates to full-time ministry.
- The annual completion of all class work.
Why is This Program Vital?
CSPC’s ministry residency program has been designed to successfully launch its participants into full-time vocational ministry. It does this by providing three streams of learning, requiring a series of annual deliverables, and offering some unique and compelling experiences. Graduates of this program are prepared and equipped to become the next generation of ministry leaders.
Additional compelling components of the ministry residency program include:
- Paid tuition for seminary.
- An annual five-day retreat to Our Lady of Gethsemani Monastery.
- The opportunity to travel with the Director of Global Missions to visit our mission partners outside of the United States.
- An annual stipend.
- A capstone experience in year four.
- Integration into the CSPC staff.
- The participation in a weekly homiletics cohort with the senior pastor.
Who is Eligible to apply?
Men and Women in Ministry
If you are involved in ministry and would like to turn it into your full-time vocation, this program can help you bridge the gap between your call to ministry and completing your seminary degree.
Candidates for Seminary
If you desire a seminary education and degree but are facing financial challenges, this program provides full support to make your call to ministry a reality.
Seekers of a Second Act
If you are considering a career pivot into ministry and do not know where to begin, this program offers the guidance and support you need.